Headstrong (Trapt song)

"Headstrong"
Single by Trapt
from the album Trapt
ReleasedSeptember 23, 2002 (2002-09-23)
Genre
Length
  • 4:45 (album version)
  • 3:54 (edit version)
  • 3:35 (radio and video edit)
LabelWarner Bros.
Songwriter(s)
  • Chris Brown
  • Pete Charell
  • Simon Ormandy
  • Jeffrey Unbankes
Producer(s)
Trapt singles chronology
"Headstrong"
(2002) 		"Still Frame"
(2003)

"Headstrong" is the debut single of American rock band Trapt from their 2002 self-titled debut album. It reached No. 1 on the US Billboard Mainstream Rock and Modern Rock Tracks charts and No. 16 on the Billboard Hot 100. It crossed over to mainstream pop radio, peaking at No. 4 on the Billboard Mainstream Top 40. The song also won two Billboard Music Awards in 2003 for "Best Modern Rock Track" and "Best Rock Track". It is considered to be the band's signature song.

Billboard rated "Headstrong" the No. 1 modern rock and mainstream rock song of 2003. In September 2023, for the 35th anniversary of Modern Rock Tracks (which had been renamed to Alternative Airplay),[4] Billboard ranked the song at No. 60 on its list of the 100 most successful songs in the chart's history.[5] In 2018, an official poll by Ultimate Guitar saw the site's users rate "Headstrong" as having the fourth-worst riff of all time.[6]

Music video

A music video was produced for "Headstrong" which shows the band performing in front of a crowd. Paper and other debris are seen flying past in furious winds as the group plays in an urban nighttime setting, as well as a couple of teenagers arguing with the people they know, such as one teen getting into an argument with his father while they are in a car and the kid becomes fed up with his father's attitude and storms off as well as another teen quitting his job at a restaurant after getting pushed around by his boss; the two teens then join Trapt in the crowd. A third teen is seen walking through the crowd and eventually graffitis Trapt's logo on a wall. The video found considerable airplay on MTV2 and MMUSA upon release. The video was directed by Brian Scott Weber.

Awards and nominations

Billboard Music Awards

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2003 "Headstrong" Top Rock Song Won
2003 "Headstrong" Modern Rock Track of the Year Won
2003 Trapt Top Rock Artist Nominated

Larry Awards

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2003 "Headstrong" Best Hard Rock Song Won

Teen Choice Awards

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2003 "Headstrong" Choice – Rock Track Nominated

Track listings and formats

  • US 7-inch vinyl[7]
  1. "Headstrong"  – 4:45
  2. "Still Frame"  – 4:31
  • Australian CD single[8]
  1. "Headstrong"  – 4:45
  2. "Promise"  – 3:36
  3. "Hollowman"  – 5:03

Charts

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[23] Platinum 1,000,000*

* Sales figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United States September 23, 2002 (2002-09-23)
Warner Bros. [24]
Australia May 12, 2003 (2003-05-12) CD [25]
United States June 9, 2003 (2003-06-09) Contemporary hit radio [26]
United Kingdom September 1, 2003 (2003-09-01) CD [27]

References

  1. ^ Mills, Matt (April 28, 2020). "The 10 best songs by the 10 worst nu metal bands". Louder Sound. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
  2. ^ "Friday Top: 10 Songs with Worst Guitar Riffs".
  3. ^ Augusto, Troy J. (June 25, 2003). "Trapt; Seether". Variety. Retrieved May 2, 2020.
  4. ^ Rutherford, Kevin (September 7, 2023). "Alternative Airplay Chart's 35th Anniversary: Foo Fighters Remain No. 1 Act, 'Monsters' New Top Song". Billboard. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  5. ^ "Greatest of All Time Alternative Songs". Billboard. Archived from the original on October 6, 2023. Retrieved November 29, 2023.
  6. ^ "Friday Top: 15 Worst Riffs of All Time". March 2, 2018. Retrieved March 27, 2019.
  7. ^ Headstrong (US 7" vinyl liner notes). Trapt. Warner Bros. Records. 2002. 7-16534.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  8. ^ Headstrong (AUS CD Single liner notes). Trapt. Warner Bros. Records. 2003. 9362426212.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  9. ^ "Issue 706" ARIA Top 100 Singles. National Library of Australia. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
  10. ^ "Official Rock & Metal Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
  11. ^ "Trapt Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
  12. ^ "Trapt Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
  13. ^ "Trapt Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
  14. ^ "Trapt Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
  15. ^ "Trapt Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
  16. ^ "2003 Year End Charts – The Billboard Hot 100 Singles & Tracks". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved January 3, 2012.
  17. ^ Bronson, Fred (December 27, 2003). "Chart Beat: Many Acts Return in '03 Recap". Billboard. Vol. 115, no. 52. pp. YE-59. Retrieved December 19, 2023.
  18. ^ "The Year in Charts 2003: Most-Played Mainstream Top 40 Songs". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 11, no. 51. December 19, 2003. p. 14.
  19. ^ "Year in Music: Hot Modern Rock Tracks". Billboard. Vol. 115, no. 52. December 27, 2003. p. YE-75. Retrieved December 19, 2023.
  20. ^ "2004 The Year in Charts: Most-Played Mainstream Top 40 Songs". Billboard Radio Monitor. Vol. 12, no. 51. December 17, 2004. p. 22.
  21. ^ "Trapt | Biography, Music & News". Billboard.
  22. ^ a b "The Decade in Music" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 121, no. 50. December 19, 2009. pp. 161–162. Retrieved June 12, 2021.
  23. ^ "American single certifications – Trapt – Headstrong". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved November 24, 2015.
  24. ^ "Going for Adds" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1471. September 20, 2002. p. 33. Retrieved May 10, 2021.
  25. ^ "The ARIA Report: New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 12th May 2003" (PDF). ARIA. May 12, 2003. p. 26. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 6, 2003. Retrieved May 10, 2021.
  26. ^ "Going for Adds" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1507. June 6, 2003. p. 27. Retrieved May 10, 2021.
  27. ^ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. August 30, 2003. p. 23. Retrieved September 8, 2021.